Hiawatha groundwater and stormwater pumping update

On Wednesday, Nov. 2, Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) staff updated the Board of Commissioners on recent and upcoming activities related to the pumping of groundwater and stormwater from Hiawatha Golf Course into Lake Hiawatha. The update refreshed the findings presented to Hiawatha neighbors and the public in June. It also outlined the further investigations to be performed and frame decision points related to pumping scenarios. To facilitate the upcoming work, it is intended that technical assistance will be in place by early December and that work will proceed to a point where options can be fully described, including costs and implications, by July 2017.

As in the first stages of the exploration, the MPRB will be working closely with the City of Minneapolis Department of Public Works. Involvement of Public Works is necessary to fully understand the conditions and to frame a range of options to be considered.  The MPRB and the City will engage other regulatory and partner agencies as we progress through Phase Two. 

Key activities in Phase Two include investigations that support a full exploration of options related to pumping. While the general implications of two options—continuing pumping at current volumes or stopping pumping—were described in the June meetings, this stage of work will be more explicit in demonstrating the implications of those options and an option that reduces the volume of pumping. Each option may have varying impacts on the golf course, Lake Hiawatha and its water quality, nearby public infrastructure, Minnehaha Creek, and Lake Nokomis. Each may also have different effects on nearby private properties. By July, the requisite assessments and formulation of options will be complete and ready to be considered.

The outline of the second stage of investigations will be shared with neighbors and the public during a meeting scheduled for 6:30 pm, Nov. 29, 2016 in the Powderhorn Recreation Center gymnasium, located at 3400 15th Ave. S., Minneapolis.

Public Meeting

Date: Nov. 29, 2016
Time: 6:30 pm
Location: Powderhorn Recreation Center
Address: 3400 15th Ave. S
Topic: Discuss Phase Two of groundwater and stormwater pumping investigation